Just as a follow-up, after reading the repsonses and talking with a couple of the guys, here's my plan:

I'm buying into the idea that getting a spare axle and learning how to install it is more desirable than spending $1-2K on manual hubs.

As it stands, I'm not going to have the dealer (where the truck parked) do anthing to it. Jeff the marmot and Steve Scheafer say this is how I can drive home safely: Using a razor, of some other sort of cutting device, I can cut the inner boot in half by cutting a full circle around the middle of it. I can then pull the axle out easily by hand, no tools required. (If I had known this, I might have done it on the trail. Although I'd probably want to cover the hole somehow to protect it against dirt and water.) After cleaning up all the grease (Steve says there'll be a lot) and pieces of broken parts, it should be fine to drive to my heart's content (in 2WD of course).

If all goes as planned, I'll drive the truck home tonight, order a new axle from Car Quest (or wherever), and then Scott (JadeRunner), Jeff (the marmot) and I will get together sometime and learn together how to install an axle. We're looking at this as a good learning oportunity, at least that's the "spin." I'm glad this is looking like it isn't going to drain my bank account. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

<small>[ April 14, 2003, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>